Cost of Living Comparison Between Wah and Karachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Wah and Karachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $423 in Wah versus $457 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $635 in Wah versus $728 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $848 in Wah versus $999 in Karachi.

Living in Wah costs roughly 7% less than in Karachi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Wah 69% lower, Karachi 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.85 PKR 512

$2.20 PKR 611

-15.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.91 PKR 3,024

$14.33 PKR 3,974

-23.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 PKR 1,473

$5.27 PKR 1,462

0.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 PKR 681

$2.14 PKR 593

14.95%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 PKR 592

$7.36 PKR 2,040

-70.92%

Cappuccino

$1.28 PKR 356

$2.20 PKR 610

-41.82%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 PKR 84.6

$0.33 PKR 92.3

-9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 PKR 72.3

$0.23 PKR 63.3

13.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 PKR 217

$0.89 PKR 248

-12.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 PKR 166

$0.52 PKR 145

15.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 341

$1.24 PKR 345

-0.81%

Eggs

$1.19 PKR 331

$1.21 PKR 335

-1.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.54 PKR 2,367

$6.19 PKR 1,715

37.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.57 PKR 712

$3.03 PKR 841

-15.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.96 PKR 1,097

$6.11 PKR 1,695

-35.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.08 PKR 299

$1.22 PKR 339

-11.48%

Banana (1kg)

$0.66 PKR 183

$0.55 PKR 153

20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$0.98 PKR 272

-44.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 PKR 140

$0.59 PKR 164

-13.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PKR 86.2

$0.34 PKR 95.2

-8.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 PKR 146

$0.31 PKR 85.2

70.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 PKR 141

$0.39 PKR 109

30.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.43 PKR 121

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.53 PKR 146

$1.25 PKR 347

-57.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 PKR 146

$1.32 PKR 365

-59.85%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 PKR 193

$2.48 PKR 687

-71.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 PKR 651

$1.79 PKR 496

31.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 56.4

$0.28 PKR 77.5

-28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.14 PKR 3,088

$8.20 PKR 2,274

35.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.06 PKR 293

$0.74 PKR 205

43.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 PKR 305

$0.70 PKR 194

57.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 PKR 796

$2.20 PKR 609

30.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 PKR 309

$1.33 PKR 369

-16.54%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.1K PKR 6.4M

$18.0K PKR 5.0M

27.90%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.0K PKR 6.4M

$27.6K PKR 7.6M

-16.76%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$67.2 PKR 18.6K

$104 PKR 28.8K

-35.25%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$5.54 PKR 1,536

$5.88 PKR 1,630

-5.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.31 PKR 3,968

$12.86 PKR 3,565

11.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.69 PKR 3,795

$20.32 PKR 5,633

-32.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.66 PKR 5,174

Cinema Ticket

$7.14 PKR 1,980

$4.40 PKR 1,221

62.27%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$26.72 PKR 7,408

$50.4 PKR 14.0K

-46.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,048 PKR 567.9K

$1,375 PKR 381.2K

48.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.69 PKR 5,182

$14.81 PKR 4,107

26.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.49 PKR 7,345

$21.90 PKR 6,072

20.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.2 PKR 15.0K

$65.2 PKR 18.1K

-16.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.16 PKR 8,084

$35.81 PKR 9,927

-18.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PKR 32.8K

$111 PKR 30.8K

6.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.2 PKR 20.8K

$70.9 PKR 19.6K

6.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 PKR 73.7K

$297 PKR 82.2K

-10.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$140 PKR 38.8K

$180 PKR 49.9K

-22.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$911 PKR 252.6K

$976 PKR 270.7K

-6.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$554 PKR 153.6K

$467 PKR 129.6K

18.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$182 PKR 50.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.83

12.88

-8.15%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Wah: September 1, 2026

Last update for Karachi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Wah and $111 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Wah vs $14.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $97.0 vs $101 per month, with Wah cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Wah vs Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Wah and Karachi differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($423 vs $457 including rent). Wah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $635 in Wah and $685 in Karachi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $118 in Wah versus $111 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $423 per month in Wah versus $457 in Karachi – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Wah runs roughly 36% less than in Karachi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Wah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Wah and Karachi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Wah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Karachi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.